The Good Demon

Starred review from August 20, 2018
Not every spiritual possession is unwanted. Clarabella, 16, feels most herself with Her—the demon who possesses her (“a voice inside my voice, a body inside my body, a spirit inside my spirit”), offers her marvels, and keeps her safe throughout her tough childhood in the deep South. After Reverend Sanders and his son perform a “deliverance,” holding Clare down and rebuking her demon, all she wants is to feel less alone. As she looks for ways to get her demon back—and begins to fall for the very boy who helped with the sundering—Clare finds a note in Her handwriting (“Be nice to him/ June 20/ Remember the stories”). It leads her to the journal of a missing boy, once-possessed Kevin Henrikson; to Gaspar, the mysterious One Wish Man; and to her small town’s deep occult inheritance. Linework by Hoeweler shows mesmerizing mystical symbols on a variety of backgrounds. With a careful build and a terrifying first-person narration, Cajoleas (Goldeline) offers up a story interested in free will that is as gently ominous as a silent car coasting over a road on a hot, humid summer night. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jess Regel, Foundry Literary + Media.

June 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-Clare has been possessed since she was eight years old. The "demon" is her comfort blanket, her binky, and her home. Clare's mom is under her stepdad's control, and he hates her. And no one in her small town of freaky people pays her any attention. That is, until She takes over her body. But the preacher and his boy, Roy, come and take Her away. Through a loneliness she has never known to a complicated relationship she never thought was possible for her with Roy, Clare searches for a way to get Her back. But the teen may be wishing for more than she's ever dreamed of and more than she is willing to sacrifice. Cajoleas weaves a narrative of dreams, demons, and wishes. Every kid wonders what it would be like to have an imaginary friend, but what if you had a friend that lived inside of you that wasn't so imaginary? Cajoleas poses the question, "Can there be good demons?" Witnessing Clare's relationship with Her, readers will be conflicted in their answer. Even though She fell in love with Clare, the demon manipulates her and lies to her, making her do "evil" things to people she loves and cares about. Clare's development might come a little too late for some, but this quirky tale is thought-provoking. VERDICT Purchase where horror is popular.-Rena Gibson, Ralph Ellison Library, Oklahoma City

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Starred review from July 1, 2018
Not all demons are bad. Are they?Set during an oppressively hot, humid summer in the deep American South, the narrative opens one month after the local reverend delivers 16-year-old Clare from evil. The thing no one understands is that She wasn't evil. She was Clare's best friend, her Only, and they were going to be together forever. Without Her, Clare feels unbearably alone, like there is a "long dark hallway" inside her. The discovery of a cryptic note in Her handwriting sets Clare on the path to getting Her back. The note contains three mysterious items: "Be nice to him / June 20 / Remember the stories." As Clare develops feelings for the sheltered teenage son of the preacher who exorcised Her, she discovers something sinister simmering just under the surface of her small town. Something ancient, powerful, and vile, leading to the reclusive One Wish Man. Will he help Clare--and at what price? How far is she willing to go to get Her back? Evocative language will grab readers by the throat and forge an unforgiving connection to Clare's despair and desperation. The gorgeous black-and-white artwork centered on mysterious symbols has a palpable mysticism about it. No mention of diversity implies a white default.Eerie and compelling. Fast track it to the top of the TBR pile. (Horror. 13-adult)

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Starred review from August 1, 2018
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Clare would do anything to get her demon back. Until the fiery preacher exorcised the demon, whom Clare calls Her, she was her best friend, particularly in the wake of Clare's dad's death by overdose. Now that she's gone, Clare aches with intense loneliness, and when she finds an enigmatic clue that could have only come from her demon, she's convinced it's a way to reunite. As she grows closer to Roy, the poetic, sensitive son of the preacher, she also uncovers hints of an opportunistic society intent on using any means to maintain their wealth, and traces of that group's disturbing activities in years past. First, though, she must contend with the allure of the One Wish Man, who lives in a hidden part of the woods and promises to solve all her problems. Cajoleas builds a wonderfully macabre mood in his southern gothic novel, filled with economic ruin, witchcraft, religious zealotry, and grotesque moments of horror. Lyrical, punchy language evokes a vivid sense of physicality, particularly when Clare is in the One Wish Man's decrepit, carrion-strewn house, and the constant undercurrent of Clare's desperation for connection both grounds the supernatural elements in reality and drives the plot believably forward. Thoughtful, compassionate, and subtle commentary on faith, addiction, and grief is icing on an already captivating (and chilling) cake. Readers who like their horror on the literary side will love this.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)